The Long Ryders are an American rock ‘n roll band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. They are often credited as founders of the alt-country movement and are the recent recipients of the Americana Music Association UK’s “International Trailblazer Award”.

The band’s three founding members Sid Griffin, Stephen McCarthy and Greg Sowders continue to tour the world and and on March 10th, 2023 release the long awaited follow up to their widely acclaimed #1 UK Americana album, Psychedelic Country Soul. The new album is called September November and is released by Cherry Red Records worldwide. Produced by Ed Stasium at his state-of-the-art studio in California the album stretches The Long Ryders envelope musically and contains two heartfelt musical tributes to their late bass player, the great Tom Stevens.

The band’s highly original roots rock recipe blends the punk rock spirit of the Ramones, the soul of Merle Haggard, the cosmic country of Gram Parsons and beautiful jangle of The Byrds into their own uniquely American musical experience. There is nothing quite like the Long Ryders live, not back then and certainly not now. Go see them for the musical ride of your life. Be part of rock ‘n’ roll history and write your own chapter at one of their shows. Get there early and hang on tight.

The Long Ryders in 2022. Photo by Ed Stasium.

The Long Ryders Native Sons

Native Sons 3CD BoxSet

Expanded 3 Disc Edition Released on Cherry Red Records

The three CD collection of the Long Ryders’ most beloved album, Native Sons is out now on Cherry Red Records.

Containing all the original tracks, B-sides, demos, and a live concert from London’s Dingwall’s venue in March 1985 this was and forever will be the last Long Ryders project with Tom Stevens, who complied it all.

Rolling Stone’s David Fricke described ‘Native Sons’ as an album “where Nashville, ’77 London and the mid-60s Sunset Strip converge in songs of pioneer aspiration and outlaw bonding.”

Remastered in pristine audio quality the package is chock full memorabilia and warm memories. In the USA this was a HUGE college radio/alternative/indie smash and in the UK it was number two in the alternative charts for five weeks in a row plus it helped kickstart Americana and alt-country, two terms and one genre which did not exist before this platter.

Reviewed at the time by Melody Maker as a “Modern American Classic” this version brings together all the tracks that defined the start of Alt Country with a brand new package containing new sleeve notes and memorabilia from the era.

➼ Order Native Sons via Cherry Red Records.


September November

Released March 10, 2023.

First album in four years from the band who helped invent Alt-country and Americana.

New studio album by The Long Ryders, the follow up the critically acclaimed ‘Psychedelic Country Soul’.

The album’s songs are all originals by guitarist/ mandolinist Sid Griffin (author of the Bob Dylan ‘Basement Tapes’ book Million Dollar Bash) and guitarist/pedal steel player Stephen McCarthy (who also plays with the Jayhawks and the Dream Syndicate) with help from longtime drummer Greg Sowders.

Produced by Ed Stasium, best known for his long relationship as producer and engineer for the Ramones. Ed has also produced two previous Long Ryders’ records and worked with Smithereens, Soul Asylum, Motörhead, Marshall Crenshaw, Living Colour, the Hoodoo Gurus and Julian Cope.

Order the album today!

Long Ryder guitarist/mandolinist Sid Griffin states September November is “two thirds the distilled alt- country genre we helped found back in the 1980s, one third Paisley Underground adventurism yet seasoned with a dash of our own crazed soulfulness thrown in.”

Due to the unexpected passing of bassist Tom Stevens, bass duties on the new album were shared by Murry Hammond of Americana stalwarts the Old 97s and the Long Ryders’ own Stephen McCarthy. Guests appearing in the album include D. J. Bonebrake of Los Angeles’s punk legends X and Royal Academy of Music violinist Kerenza Peacock of the Coal Porters (now a popular L.A. session player for Disney and the Los Angeles Philharmonic).

September November

Track listing
  • 1. September November Sometime
  • 2. Seasons Change
  • 3. Flying Down
  • 4. Elmer Gantry Is Alive And Well
  • 5. Hand Of Fate
  • 6. Song For Ukraine
  • 7. To The Manor Born
  • 8. That’s What They Say About Love
  • 9. Country Blues (Kitchen)
  • 10. Tom Tom
  • 11. Until God Takes Me Away
  • 12. Flying Out Of London In The Rain

State Of Our Union & Two Fisted Tales 3CD Boxsets

November 2018 will see two very, very special releases from The Long Ryders. Both State Of Our Union and Two-Fisted Tales reappear on the marketplace after years out-of-print.

Not only are these two classic albums coming back into print but each album is now a three CD set (!) with the first disc being the original album with B-sides, the second being outtakes and demos, and the third CD being a live show recorded in support of each album. State Of Our Union features a legendary live show from London’s Mean Fiddler whilst Two Fisted Tales has a memorable live show from the Oasis Water Park, Palm Springs.

So, yes, if you buy both releases… and we hope you do… the discerning Long Ryders fan will have six discs of Long Ryders music, much of it unreleased. Both sets are released on November 30th, 2018 on Cherry Red Records.

State Of Our Union, 3CD Boxset
State Of Our Union, 3CD Boxset

This 3-CD version overseen by Tom Stevens contains the re-mastered album, a set of demos from the band’s archive, and a legendary show from London’s Mean Fiddler.

Also available via Amazon UK / Amazon US

Two Fisted Tales, 3CD Boxset
Two Fisted Tales, 3CD Boxset

This 3-CD version overseen by Tom Stevens contains the re-mastered album, a disc of demos from the band’s archives and a memorable live show from Palm Springs.

Also available via Amazon UK / Amazon US

"They unwittingly invented Americana, but seldom receive credit for it... State Of Our Union was a foundation stone for what became known as No Depression, alt country and, eventually, Americana." Mojo

"The whole thing is a rush of ringing guitars and fire engine melodies that is retro and futuristic and timeless." Uncut

"Everything is fresh enough to have been recorded yesterday and puts most of todays bands to shame." Americana-UK

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